Shloka 57

Dietary Rules & Purification — Dietary Rules, Purification (Śauca), and the Duties of the Householder and Forest-Dweller

Devanagari script

तत्रारण्योपभोगैश्च तपोभिश्चात्मकर्षणम् भूमौ शय्या ब्रह्मचर्यं पितृदेवातिथिक्रिया

Transliteration

tatrāraṇyopabhogaiśca tapobhiścātmakarṣaṇam bhūmau śayyā brahmacaryaṃ pitṛdevātithikriyā

Translation

Là, dans la forêt, en se nourrissant des produits forestiers et par les austérités (tapas), on doit pratiquer la maîtrise de soi. Qu’on dorme à même le sol, qu’on observe le brahmacarya (continence), et qu’on accomplisse les rites convenables envers les ancêtres, les dieux et les hôtes.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक (locative adverb: ‘there/in that stage’)

• आरण्य-उपभोगैः: with forest provisions/usages
• आरण्य-उपभोगैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आरण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + उपभोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः: आरण्याः उपभोगाः (forest-appropriate enjoyments/uses)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (conjunction)

• तपोभिः: with austerities
• तपोभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (conjunction)

• आत्म-करषणम्: self-mortification, self-discipline
• आत्म-करषणम्: Karta/Viṣaya (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + करषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: आत्मनः करषणम् (self-discipline/mortification)

• भूमौ: on the ground
• भूमौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• शय्या: bed, sleeping place
• शय्या: Karta/Viṣaya (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शय्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (भूमौ) शय्या—भूमौ इति सप्तमीसंबन्धः

• ब्रह्मचर्यम्: celibacy, chastity
• ब्रह्मचर्यम्: Karta/Viṣaya (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पितृ-देव-अतिथि-क्रिया: rites for ancestors, gods, and guests
• पितृ-देव-अतिथि-क्रिया: Karta/Viṣaya (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक) + अतिथि (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः: पितॄणां देवानाम् अतिथीनां च क्रिया (rites/service for ancestors, gods, guests)

Speakers

• Narrative layer not explicit in the provided excerpt; commonly Pulastya → Nārada in the Vāmana Purāṇa framework (uncertain for this specific verse without surrounding text).

Key Themes

• Varnashrama-Dharma
• Vānaprastha
• Tapas
• Brahmacarya
• Pitṛ-yajña / Deva-yajña / Atithi-satkara

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "vira", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse frames vānaprastha as a disciplined transition from household life: simplicity (sleeping on the ground), chastity, and continued social-sacral responsibility (honoring gods, ancestors, and guests) alongside tapas. Renunciation here is not neglect of duty but purification through restrained living.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

It aligns best with Dharma/Ācāra material often embedded within Purāṇas; within pañcalakṣaṇa labels it is closest to 'Vamśānucarita' adjunct teachings or general 'dharma-kathā' rather than sarga/pratisarga/manvantara proper. (Purāṇas frequently include such normative sections beyond the strict five marks.)

What is the symbolic significance?

Forest life symbolizes interiorization: 'ātmakarṣaṇa' indicates drawing the senses and ego inward. Service to pitṛ, deva, and atithi indicates that spiritual progress is integrated with gratitude (ancestral continuity), reverence (cosmic order), and hospitality (ethical universality).